All five of USC’s defeats have been by a margin of just one score.
USC’s inaugural season in the Big Ten has been disappointing. The Trojans fell to 2-5 in the conference and 4-5 overall after suffering a 26-21 defeat against Washington on Saturday night. All five of USC’s losses this season have been by a narrow margin, a point that Lincoln Riley touched on during his postgame press conference when a reporter inquired about what the team needed to do to improve.
“It’s not like we’re getting completely overwhelmed,” Riley stated. “So it’s not a situation where I need to go back to the drawing board and think, ‘Wow, we’re just performing terribly and getting dominated in this area or that.’ It’s not that at all. This team has demonstrated the ability to do all the necessary things. We just need to stay focused, rely on our leaders, and keep improving.”
On Saturday, USC had numerous chances to defeat a Washington team that looked very different from the one that competed in the national title game last year. The Trojans’ second drive began in Washington’s territory but ended abruptly with an interception thrown by Miller Moss on the first play. This was quickly followed by a missed field goal.
At halftime, the Huskies held a 13-point lead, but USC fought back to take a 21-20 advantage with two consecutive touchdowns in the third quarter. Unfortunately, the Trojans’ offense faltered when it mattered most during their final three drives. Another interception by Moss put Washington in a favorable position to score the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. A crucial goal-line stand by the Huskies at the 1-yard line thwarted USC’s 15-play drive.
USC’s last drive covered 52 yards in just six plays but ended in disappointment with four consecutive incompletions from the Washington 14-yard line, culminating in Moss’s final pass falling incomplete with only 11 seconds remaining.
“We clearly didn’t make the necessary plays at the end and came up just one play short,” Riley remarked. “It’s crucial for all of us to focus on this game alone, rather than comparing it to other games we’ve won or lost. You really hate to see the missed opportunities on the road against a team that, honestly, I can’t recall the last time they lost here, but it’s been quite a while.”
The victory marks Washington’s third consecutive win at home, despite having lost 24-19 to in-state rival Washington State earlier in the season. Riley’s remarks about USC’s struggles to make crucial plays at the end of games have been a recurring issue for the Trojans this year.
For instance, USC failed to secure a first down with under five minutes remaining while leading Michigan by four points. They also allowed a 12-play touchdown drive to Minnesota, resulting in the Gophers scoring the game-winning touchdown with less than a minute left. In their overtime loss to Penn State, USC couldn’t score after taking possession with under three minutes left in a tied game. Additionally, they surrendered 15 consecutive points to Maryland in a narrow 29-28 defeat.
To qualify for a bowl game, USC needs to secure two wins against Nebraska, UCLA, and Notre Dame. The Bruins recently defeated the Huskers on the road, while Notre Dame currently holds a 7-1 record.
